Clergy Continuing Education Grants

Clergy Continuing Education Grants is sponsored by Disciples Home Missions. These grants support ordained and commissioned clergy in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in their commitment to life-long learning and continuing education opportunities. Grants can be made to individual clergy for training and educational events.

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** ## Educational Grants for Disciples Clergy Disciples Home Missions (DHM) seeks to support ordained and commissioned clergy in their commitment to a process of life-long learning. Those who take advantage of available educational experiences often discover that there are benefits of such experiences for themselves and the people with whom they are in ministry.

- [x] Commissioned Clergy ### Scholarships for commissioned clergy Disciples Home Missions now has limited funds for continuing education grants to commissioned clergy of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The following is the criteria by which eligibility for grant will be determined. Grants can be made to individual clergy for training and educational events.

All grant funds must be used within the calendar year for which the grant is awarded. ### Information and eligibility Applicants are commissioned clergy with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), or persons who are in the process of being commissioned by a regional commission/committee on the ministry.

Eligible persons should be listed as commissioned ministers in the regions where they have standing or have a letter from the region stating they are candidates for commissioning. * As these are continuing education funds,commissioned theological students are not eligible for these funds.

* An applicant must hold standing as a Commissioned Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada or approved for standing based on call as a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

* Preference for continuing education grants will be given to persons attending events which enhance their leadership skills; such events include preaching, administration, Bible study, theology, and education. * Recipients are limited to a maximum of one grant in a 12-month period, and no more than three grants within any contiguous six years.

* Occasionally, due to limited amounts of funds that are available to be awarded in any specific year, the number and more-recent nature of previous awards for each clergy applicant may be a factor that eliminates them from consideration, in favor of other candidates who have never before received such an award. * Recipients of continuing education scholarships are encouraged to contribute to the cost of their educational experience.

In all cases, demonstrated financial need will be a strong factor in determining the amount of the grant. * When requests exceed funds available, preference will be given to those with the greatest need, and/or for whom no other funds are available.

* Normally all the partners in continuing education … _– the clergy applicant, as well as – the congregation, or other related employer, or sponsoring institutions or agencies,_… are encouraged to invest financially in the proposed continuing education program in equitable amounts.

* Each award is expected to be used for only the specific educational experience described in the application, and costs directly related to such (_registration, travel, food, lodging_), but cannot be used for personal items, electronic hardware/media/equipment, or supplies. **All grant funds must be used within the calendar year for which the grant is awarded.

** * Currently, each applicant has the potential to receive a maximum $500 award in any one year. * No annual award is guaranteed until awarded, and a separate application must be made each year to be considered. * _**Applications will be received every year from September 1st through October 31st for grants awarded the following calendar year.

Our goal is to send notification of the grants awards by mid-November and no later than the first week of December. **_ * The amount awarded is no more than $500 per year, up to three years within any consecutive six-year period.

* All questions on application form must be answered before an application can be processed; be sure to print a copy of the completed application form for your own records should any document verification be required. * No application will be processed until DHM has received the required information from the minister’s regional office.

Please send your regional minister thisregional online endorsement formlink to complete on your behalf. For non-Regional Ministers with standing through the General Commission on Ministry,any regional or area ministerial staff person from any region may be chosen to provide a regional endorsement.

Senior Regional Minister applicants will need a reference from their Regional Commission On Ministry chairperson, General Minister and President, or the Chair of GCOM. Associate Regional Ministers can choose their Senior Regional Minister or Regional Commission On Ministry chairperson as their referent. All other applicants must request the form be filled out by the regional or area minister of the region in which standing is held.

Regional endorsements may not be completed by the person submitting the application. * **It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure their required materials reach the scholarship office of DHM before the application deadline.

** * Grants will be made only to those who propose to participate in a continuing education event recognized by an accrediting body beyond the sponsoring institution or organization; approved by a regional or general unit of the church; or endorsed by the regional commission on the ministry as a valid continuing education program.

Denominational events such as General or Regional Assemblies, fellowship meetings, and ecumenical assemblies do not qualify for continuing education grants. * Grant recipients are responsible for submitting financial documentation (copies of itemized receipts, registration forms, etc.) to Disciples Home Missions, up to amount of grant award, following the completion of the education experience.

This should be done within 30 days after the completion of the event. Any unused or undocumented portion of the grant must be refunded back to Disciples Home Missions. Failure to comply with these requirements may disqualify a person from receiving future grants.

An itemized list of expenses does NOT count as financial documentation without itemized receipts. * Grants can only be use for the expenses of the one who receives the award, and are not intended for costs related to guests, partners, spouses, or any other person. You may apply by completing theonline application form.

If you have further questions, please contact the Clergy Continuing Education office at Disciples Home Missions. ### Scholarships for ordained clergy #### Information and eligibility Disciples Home Missions (DHM) seeks to support ministers in their commitment to a process of life-long learning.

Ministers who take advantage of available educational experiences often discover that there are benefits of such experiences for themselves and the people with whom they are in ministry. Accordingly, DHM has continuing education funds available for clergy of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The following eligibility criteria for the funds were established initially by DHM Board of Directors in June, 1975, and have been updated in more recent years to maintain effectiveness of the program. * Each applicant must hold standing as an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. * Candidates for advanced professional degrees in ministry such as D.

Min. are eligible for consideration, provided they have been in full time ministry for at least three years following receipt of basic or beginning theological degree. * Recipients are limited to a maximum of one grant in a 12-month period, and no more than three grants within any contiguous six years.

* Occasionally, due to limited amounts of funds that are available to be awarded in any specific year, the number and more-recent nature of previous awards for each clergy applicant may be a factor that eliminates them from consideration, in favor of other candidates who’ve never before received such an award. * D. Min.

students may receive grants up to three times during D. Min. matriculation.

* Recipients of continuing education scholarships are encouraged to contribute to the cost of their educational experience. In all cases, demonstrated financial need will be a strong factor in determining the amount of the grant. * When requests exceed funds available, preference will be given to those with the greatest need, and/or for whom no other funds are known to be available.

* Normally all the partners in continuing education … _– the clergy applicant, as well as – the congregation, or other related employer, or sponsoring institutions or agencies,_… are encouraged to invest financially in the proposed continuing education program in equitable amounts.

* Each award is expected to be used for only the specific educational experience described in the application, and costs directly related to such (_registration, travel, food, lodging_), but cannot be used for personal items, electronic hardware/media/equipment, or supplies. **All grant funds must be used within the calendar year for which the grant is awarded.

** * Currently, each applicant has the potential to receive a maximum $500 award in any one year. * No annual award is guaranteed until awarded, and a separate application must be made each year to be considered. * **_Applications will be received every year from September 1st through October 31st for grants awarded the following calendar year.

Our goal is to send notification of the grant awards by mid-November and no later than the first week of December. _** * All questions on the application form must be answered before an application can be processed; be sure to print a copy of the completed application form for your own records should any document verification be required.

* No application will be processed until DHM has received the required information from the minister’s regional office. Please send your regional minister thisregional online endorsement formlink to complete on your behalf. For non-Regional Ministers with standing through the General Commission on Ministry,any regional or area ministerial staff person from any region may be chosen to provide a regional endorsement.

Senior Regional Minister applicants will need a reference from their Regional Commission On Ministry chairperson, General Minister and President, or the Chair of GCOM. Associate Regional Ministers can choose their Senior Regional Minister or Regional Commission On Ministry chairperson as their referent. All other applicants must have the form filled out by the regional or area minister of the region in which their standing is held.

Regional endorsements may not be completed by the person submitting the application. * **It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure their required materials reach the scholarship office of DHM before the application deadline.

** * Grants will be made only to those who propose to participate in a continuing education event recognized by an accrediting body beyond the sponsoring institution or organization; approved by a regional or general unit of the church; or endorsed by the regional commission on the ministry as a valid continuing education program.

Denominational events such as General or Regional assemblies, fellowship meetings, and ecumenical assemblies do not qualify as continuing education events. * Grant recipients are responsible for submitting financial documentation (copies of itemized receipts, registration forms, etc.) to Disciples Home Missions, up to amount of grant award, following the completion of the education experience.

This should be done within 30 days after the completion of the event. Any unused or undocumented portion of the grant must be refunded back to Disciples Home Missions. Failure to comply with these requirements may disqualify a person from receiving future grants.

An itemized list of expenses does NOT count as financial documentation without itemized receipts. * Grants can only be use for the expenses of the one who receives the award, and are not intended for costs related to guests, partners, spouses, or any other person. If you have further questions, please contact the Clergy Continuing Education office at Disciples Home Missions.

- [x] Continuing Education Application **The Grant Application Period is from September 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. ** ### Clergy Continuing Education Grant Application What name do you go by?

* Home or Cell Phone (xxx-xxx-xxxx): * Highest educational degree previously received (degree, year): * Congregation Name (or name of employing institution if you are a chaplain or counselor): * Congregation/Institution Location (city, state): * Congregation/Office Phone Number (xxx-xxx-xxxx): * Does your congregation or other church related employer have a policy provision for continuing education time and funds?

* If yes, please describe. Have you applied through them? * Event/Program Date including year: * Event/Program Location: * Describe the event for which you are seeking funds: please include information regarding how this is educational: * Sponsoring Institution: * Event Contact Person Name: * Event Contact Person Phone Number (xxx-xxx-xxxx): * Event Contact person E-Mail: * Will This program apply toward an academic degree?

* Event/program anticipated date, including year, of completion: * Is any institution, region or other organization providing CEU credits based on your completion of this program: * If yes, please provide name of such organization: * Please briefly and clearly explain how this experience for which you are requesting funds is an educational endeavor and will benefit your ministry (100 words).

* Date and nature of most recent continuing education event/program? * Have you ever received a continuing education grant from Disciples Home Missions? * If yes, what year(s) was/were grant(s) received?

Please list your legal name when grant(s) was/were awarded. * Total family income (including housing allowance or 15% of base salary if parsonage is provided): * Number of exemptions reported for income tax purposes: * Additional information bearing on financial need: Tuition or registration fees to be paid to sponsoring institution or organization?

* Additional cost for travel, if any: Additional cost for lodging, if any: Additional cost for meals, if any: Total cost of event/program: * Amount applicant will personally invest: * Amount congregation or other church-related employer will invest: * Amount of scholarship sponsoring-institution and/or other organization(s) will invest: * Amount requested from Disciples Home Missions (cannot be more than $500): * If you are human, leave this field blank.

- [x] Regional Endorsement Form Note: If you are a regional minister who has been requested to provide information to endorse a minister’s request for continuing education funds, the application window for events taking place in 2026 is from September 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026.

This Regional Endorsement Form must be completed by a regional staff person of the region in which the candidate holds Standing;**the endorsement form CANNOT be completed by the minister applying for a grant**. If you have questions, contact Lorna B. Ramos or Kelly Harris.

Regional Endorsement Form ### Additional Clergy Continuing Education Grants Beyond DHM **Doctor of Philosophy students** TheWilliam Gilbert and Florence Leonard Jones Scholarshipis given annually to a full-time student pursuing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy who is either preparing for ordination in, or already ordained in, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and intends to provide leadership to a congregation or other agency of the church.

Established through an endowment gift by an anonymous donor, this award aims to recognize and encourage outstanding Disciples preparing for ministry. **Female Ph. D in Religion Studies students** TheAnn E.

Dickerson Scholarships[](http://www. helmdisciples. org/aid/dickerson.

htm)are for female members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) working toward the Ph. D. degree in religion studies.

Each Dickerson Scholarship recipient will receive a grant for her ongoing education. A special Higher Education and Leadership Ministries fund supports Dickerson Scholarship, which honors former HELM Board member Ann E. Dickerson.

**The Fund For Theological Education** The ecumenicalFund for Theological Educationsupports excellence in the profession of ministry and has provided gifted women and men with nearly 5000 fellowships. FTE also generates innovative new programs for theological and ministerial support. Kelly Harris, Ministry Associate, Office of Christian Vocations Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 * [](https://www.

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